Equipment for mechanical charging casting apparatus



May 26, 1970 A. PETIG ET AL 3,514,018

ING APPARATUS EQUIPMENT FOR MECHANICAL CHARGING CAST Filed Jan. 4, 1968 United States Patent O1 "tice 3,514,018 Patented May 26, 1970 3,514,018 EQUIPMENT FOR MECHANICAL CHARGING CASTING APPARATUS Albrecht Petig, Wuppertal-Langenfeld, and Karl Apelt, Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany, assignors to Dr. Schmitz & Apelt Indnstrieofenbau G.m.b.H., Wuppertal-Langerfeld, Germany Filed Jan. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 695,621 Int. Cl. G01f 11/10 U.S. Cl. 222-358 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Equipment for mechanically charging casting apparatus such as casting machines, moulds, chills and the like, comprises a scooping apparatus arranged to take a quantity of metal from a molten bath, transport it to the in-gate of the casting apparatus and feed it into the latter, the scooping apparaus including a ladle supported on a movable structure for tipping movement, in which equipment the ladle comprises a rising pipe forming an inlet passage, with a bottom inlet for the entry of the melt and a higher outlet which establishes a connection with the interior of the ladle, the arrangement being such that the vertical distance between the outlet and the bottom of the ladle during the ladling process determines the amount of material picked up during such process. The rising pipe may be an external pipe or an internal pipe.

The invention relates to equipment for mechanically charging casting apparatus such as casting machines, moulds, chills and the like, comprising a scooping apparatus arranged to take a quantity of metal from a molten bath, transport it to the in-gate of the casting apparatus and feed it into the latter, the scooping apparatus including a ladle supported on a movable structure for tipping movement.

A known charging apparatus of this type comprises a pivotable structure supporting a scooping vessel substantially in the form of a ladle. Near one end of the movement of the supporting structure the ladle dips into the bath of molten metal to draw from it an amount of melt determined by the size and adjustment of the ladle, and is gradually tilted during the swinging transporting movement which follows, in such a way that the melt is fed into a casting machine along a channel which forms part of the ladle.

Another known piece 'of charging apparatus which serves the above mentioned purposes comprises a vertically and horizontally movable ladle having an opening in the bottom which can be closed by a plug. The opening serves both as an inlet and as a discharge for the melt. In such constructions the quantity of melt picked up at any given time can hardly ever be controlled with the desired degree of accuracy. In particular, the closing means provided for the hole in the bottom of the vessel is liable to cause trouble.

The invention aims to provide equipment of the above type which is simple in construction, which permits rapid, trouble-free operation and which enables the amount of material picked up to be reliably controlled within narrow limits.

According to the invention, a ladle for use in charging casting apparatus comprises a rising pipe forming an inlet passage, with a bottom inlet for the entry of the melt and a higher outlet which establishes a connection with the inteiror of the ladle, the arrangement being such that the vertical distance between the outlet and the bottom of the ladle during the ladling process determines the amount of material picked up during such process. In this construction the melt passes through the rising pipe into the interior of the ladle. This has the advantage that any layers oating on the melt, e.g. layers of oxide or slag, are substantially prevented from penetrating into the vessel and so cannot cause any trouble in the operation of the casting apparatus. Another advantage of having the melt enter through a rising pipe is that the quantity of material transferred to the casting apparatus at any one time can be determined accurately and is independent of the depths to which the ladle is dipped into the melt below the level of the latter. This elect is produced as follows: when the ladle is dipped relatively deeply into the melt the surplus material flows back into the melt through the rising pipe when the ladle is raised. No closing means or the like for the rising pipe forming the inlet passage is necessary for transporting the material, so trouble is also prevented in this respect. A further advantage of equipping the ladle with a rising pipe according to the invention is that its interior can be largely screened, so that heat losses remain small and air is also substantially kept away from the material picked up.

The invention may take many forms. In one practical embodiment the rising pipe extends along the outside of a wall of the ladle, and an aperture is provided in the wall to connect the interiors of the ladle and of the pipe. This aperture allows the material to enter the ladle. The vertical level of the aperture above the bottom of the ladle determines how much melt will be transferred to the ingate.

The rising feed pipe may extend within the space bounded by the walls of the ladle. In embodiments of this type the melt passes into the interior of the ladle straight from the top end of the pipe. The vertical level of the top end of the pipe above the bottom of the ladle accordingly determines how much melt will be picked up.

d adles according to the invention may be adapted in various ways to the quantities of melt required in the casting apparatus. It is possible, for example, to adopt the already known method of giving the ladle a certain rotary adjustment while it is being dipped into the melt, this adjustment itself determining how much will be picked up. Alternatively the ladle may be adjusted to the amount of melt to be transported by making the level of the eifective outlet of the rising pipe variable. For this purpose, for example, a plurality of apertures may be provided for optional use in a wall separating the interior of the pipe from the interior of the ladle, and only the appropriate aperture would be open at any given time. Alternatively a rising pipe projecting into the interior of the ladle may be longitudinally adjustable relatively to the bottom of the ladle. In some cases it will be found more appropriate to provide the ladle with pipes of different lengths which can be connected as desired.

It has already been mentioned that if the ladle is provided, according to the invention, with a riser-like inlet passage, the material let into the ladle will be substantially free from oxide and slag. This effect can be achieved in a particularly reliable manner if, according to a further preferred feature of the invention, a screen, preferably in the form of a float-controlled flap, is provided out-- side the inlet to the rising pipe and is arranged to open automatically once the top layer of the melt, such as a layer of oxide or slag, has been penetrated. A shield of this type may remain in the screening position until the top layer has been penetrated. It is further advisable to provide the top of the ladle with a lid which is arranged to Open automatically when the ladle is inclined to initiate its discharge. As already mentioned, this reduces heat losses and harmful effects of air and yet ensures that the ladle is rapidly emptied and that its interior is easily accessible.

An example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a scooping vessel or ladle during the lading process;

FIG. 2 shows the same ladle during its transfer to the gate;

FIG. 3 shows the ladle being emptied into the gate of a casting machine or the like;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a different form of the ladle; and

FIG. 4a is a partial view similar to FIG. 4 and showing a modification.

The interior of the ladle shown in IFIGS. 1 to 3 has two side walls and 11, two end walls 12 and a hinged lid 13. A rising pipe 14 which acts as a charging passage is joined to the outside of the side wall 10. A Wall aperture 16 extends from the interior 15 of the pipe 14 to the interior of the ladle and a shielding flap 1S is disposed in front of the inlet end 17 of the pipe 14 (in FIGS. 2 and 3). The ap 18 is carried by a rod mechanism 19 which also supports a float 20 and is pivotable about a horizontal shaft 21. The ladle is attached to a supporting structure comprising at least one vertical supporting bar 22 which is connected to the vessel by a pivot pin 23. The rotary position of the ladle about the axis of the pivot 23 is determined by a further control bar 24 which acts on the vessel through a pin 25. As already mentioned, the lid 13 is hinged and it may pivot about the above mentioned shaft 21. The movement of the lid may be controlled by an arrangement of weights (not shown) 'which begins to open the lid by gravity when the ladle is taken beyond a given inclined position.

For charging purposes the ladle is dipped into the melt as shown in FIG 1 and is given a particular inclination to determine the amount of material picked up. In FIG. 1 the vessel is dipped into the melt just deep enough to enable the melt to pass through the rising feed pipe and the aperture 16. The connection is broken immediately the vessel is raised. If the ladle were dipped into the melt deeper than shown in FIG. l, a larger quantity of melt could rst pass into it, although the surplus Would flow,

out again when the ladle began to be lifted. The depth to which it is dipped into the melt is accordingly not critical. A float arrangement may be used to ensure that the ladle goes beyond the minimum depth requiredfor the operation. When the ladle is raised it is desirable for it to be pivoted substantially into the position shown in FIG. 2, in order to prevent part of the molten material from olwing out again through the aperture 16 and passage 15 even under unfavourable circumstances. When the supporting structure has carried the ladle to the in-gate to be charged, indicated at 26 in FIG. 3, the bar 24 is moved in such a way as to tip the ladle so that the material is fed into the casting apparatus. The ladle may then be returned to the melt bath in the rotary position shown in either FIG. 2 or FIG. 1. In either case the shielding ap 18 will at first lie in front of the inlet 17 of the pipe 15, so that the withdrawn position shown in FIG. 1 is assumed only when the oat is supported on the melt. 'Should the amount of melt to be picked up not be measured by adjusting the inclination of the ladle as desired, the height of the aperture 16 above the bottom of the ladle could be variable. For this purpose one could either provide a plurality of apertures 16 to be used optionally, or employ a movable member containing the aperture 16 and adjustable to the desired level.

The ladle in FIG. 4 may substantially correspond to that in FIGS. 1 to 3 in its external shape. But instead of the feed pipe 14, 15 joined to an external surface of the side wall 10, the rising pipe 7 used in FIG. 4 projects into the interior of the ladle. Wlhen the ladle is dipped into the melt the material enters it over the top edge 28 of the pipe 27. Any surplus material which passes into the ladle through the latter being dipped really deeply into the melt will readily run out again through the pipe 27 when the ladle is raised. In the FIG. 4 embodiment the quantity of melt which can be picked up may also be determined by inclining the ladle as desired. It is also possible for the rising pipe 27 to be mounted for axial displacement in the ladle for which purpose the rising pipe may be formed of two tubular parts 27a and 27b threadingly connected to each other as shown in FIG. 4a so that the upper part 27 may be axially displaced relative to the lower part to thereby adjust the effective distance of the upper edge 28 from the bottom of the ladle, or for a ladle to be provided `with a plurality of pipes of different lengths which can be attached at will by being threaded into an opening in the bottom of the ladle as shown in FIG. 4. to make the level of the rising pipe outlet 28 above the bottom of the ladle conform with particular requirements.

To complete thgtdescription it should be added that in FIG. 4 the float 20 is vertically adjustable on the supporting mechanism 19, so that the response of the shielding flap 18 can be adapted to particular operating conditions.

As already mentioned, the embodiments illustrated are only examples of the invention. For example, the external shape of the ladle may be modified, as may the means or methods used to limit the quantity of melt picked up'.

We claim:

1. A ladle for charging casting apparatus and comprising a rising pipe forming an inlet passage, said rising pipe having a bottom inlet for the entry of the melt and a higher outlet communicating with the interior of the ladle, the arrangement being such that the Vertical distance between said outlet and the bottom of the ladle during the =ladling process determines the amount of material picked up during such proces and so that such amount may be picked up by the ladle exclusively through said rising pipe and without dipping the upper edge of the ladle into the melt; a shield movable from a shielding position in front of said inlet of said rising pipe and an inoperative position; and means cooperating with said shield for normally maintaining said shield in said shielding position and for moving the shield to said inoperative position during dipping of the ladle into the melt after the top layer of the melt has been penetrated.

2. A ladle according to claim 1, 'wherein the shield is a float-controlled ap.

3. A ladle for charging casting apparatus, comprising, in combination, walls forming said ladle and bounding the space formed by said walls; and a rising pipe extending within said space and having a bottom inlet for the entry of the melt and a higher outlet communicating with the interior of the ladle, the arrangement being such that the vertical distance between said outlet and the bottom of the ladle during the ladling process determines the amount of material picked up during such process and so that such amount may be picked up by the -ladle exclusively through said rising pipe and without dipping t-he upper edge of the ladle into the melt.

4. A ladle according to claim 1, wherein pipes of different lengths may be connected to the ladle as desired.

5. A ladle according to claim 3, wherein said rising pipe is longitudinally adjustable relative to the bottom of the ladle.

i6. A ladle for charging casting apparatus and comprising a rising pipe forming an inlet passage, said rising pipe having a bottom inlet for the entry of the melt and a higher outlet communicating with the interior of the ladle, the arrangement being such that the vertical dis- References Cited bwzai, zTLTILTBELfmgizf-l? TESTED STATES PATENTS u g e g r c s er 1 s teria] picked up during such process and so that such 1'894007 1/1933 Schmidt 222-358 X amount may be picked up `by the ladle exclusively through 908032 5/1933 .Lester Z22-*358 said rising pipe and without dipping the upper edge of the 5 ladle into the melt; and a lid mounted on top of said ladle and arranged to open automatically 'when said ladle is inclined to initiate its discharge. SAMUEL F COLEMAN Primary Exammer 

